Some poly bushings reuse the shell (big TAB, rear control arm bushing), most of them do *not* reuse the shell. Read the instructions.

Best way to get old rubber out is to heat the shell to loosen the rubber's bond and push it out with a press tool of some sort. If you heat the rubber itself, it'll ignite, and the fumes will kill everything in a 10 mile radius. Hole saws work well, too. Drilling out the rubber with standard bits does not work so well. The rubber melts, bit clogs, no fun.

I agree with Lucid's post that the front bushing in the control arm seems to last a very long time.

If your car has seen salty roads, you need a *big* press to push bushings out. Having a shop do the press work is a nice luxury. I have hacksawed old bushings out, and while it costs nothing, it's simply a dirty no fun job. A relief cut or two, and I was able to push the shells out with a spiffy ball-joint/U-joint press tool that I got from Harbor Freight.

-Ryan



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Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 324k, Dog-mobile, E-codes
1990 245 DL 137k M47, E-codes, GT Sways/Braces, Dracos, A-cam
1990 744GLE 189K 16-valve project
1991 745 GL 304k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars